A new Rasmussen Reports survey shows that Newt Gingrich has, indeed, tightened things up in Mitt Romney's backyard, frontyard, basement, and Kitchen Stadium -- New Hampshire.
1. Mitt Romney 34%
2. Newt Gingrich 24%
3. Ron Paul 14%
4. Jon Huntsman 11%
As Rasmussen notes, this is the first survey of the state since The Manchester Union-Leader endorsed Gingrich over the weekend.
Btw, you should read Scott Conroy's new piece on Newt's operation in the state. He captures a surge of excitement not seen since... uh, Rick Perry.
The still bare-bones campaign is adding meat daily here with county captains now in place and a growing database of people who want to help.
“It’s frightening but exciting, I’ll tell you,” volunteer coordinator Pam Smith said of the uptick in interest. “Honest to God, they’re just flowing in hand over fist."
One more btw: You know who's Newt's best friend now?
Jon Huntsman.
He at 11% now and probably siphoning off moderates and indies that would otherwise vote for Mitt. That obviously helps Newt.
And you can bet on this -- Huntsman won't drop out if he can show respectably in New Hampshire, if only because he and Romney sort of hate each other.
